On July 31, 2023, Howard University Director of Athletics Kery Davis appointed Collin Francis to the newly created position of Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Health, Wellness and Performance. The announcement came Monday.
Francis' hire is part of a broader reorganization of the department's health and performance areas, designed to promote holistic student-athlete care and optimal performance. Francis will oversee all aspects of student-athlete health and wellness, including sports medicine, strength & conditioning, nutrition and mental health & performance.
"Student-athlete health and well-being is our first priority and Collin's breadth of experience across NCAA Division I, the NFL and expansive knowledge in health and performance will prove invaluable to our department," said Davis. "Most importantly, he has a passion for student-athlete care and he will do an outstanding job in this extended role."
Francis comes to The Mecca after spending the last 10 years as an athletic trainer in both the collegiate ranks (Clemson University, Morgan State University and Indiana University) and the National Football League (NFL) with the San Diego Chargers (now Los Angeles Chargers), Carolina Panthers and the Baltimore Ravens.
Francis was an athletic trainer for USA Swimming at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia and is the founder of the Baltimore Area Sports Health Initiative, a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the healthcare of athletes in the Baltimore area.
"The establishment of the Howard University Athletics Department of Student-Athlete Health, Wellness and Performance marks a momentous step in elevating the student-athlete experience on our campus,” Francis said. “I am thrilled to spearhead the divisions of strength and conditioning, mental health and performance, nutrition and sports medicine, as we embark on this cutting-edge high-performance model. I extend my gratitude to Mr. Davis for his visionary and thoughtful commitment to adopting a holistic approach to student-athlete health."
Francis received his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from the University of Delaware and graduated with a Master of Science degree from Clemson University.
